This is due to the fact that in the Kandyan community, sexual morality rarely mattered and you can polygyny (men bringing one or more partner),polyandry (a woman bringing multiple partner) and you can concubinage was basically all of the recognised given that judge
Asiff Hussein typed: As in Asia marriages during the caste was in fact this new recognized norm. Robert Knox, an English exile which spent almost 20 years regarding Kandyan Kingdom (1660 – 1679) states in the performs “Historic Loved ones regarding Ceylon” (1681): “This isn’t accounted any guilt otherwise fault having a man of high types so you can put having a female far lower so you’re able to himself, nay of the very reduced knowledge, considering the guy none takes nor beverages with her, neither requires their where you can find his family because his spouse.” [Source: Taken from Sinhalese, Kandyan and you can very early Uk era literary offer from the Asiff Hussein, Virtual Library Sri Lanka lankalibrary ]
Knox”s statement implies that marriage, in the place of mere cohabitation, had a routine worth. Actually other statements of his show that Kandyan community is a keen extremely licentious you to where both males and females got complete independence to cohabit having whomsoever it happy save yourself you to in the event of women, they may perhaps not do it with you to inferior within the status so you’re able to themselves, eg an act entailing big abuse. Says Knox, “If any of women are going to be thus deluded, regarding commit folly which have one underneath by herself, when she should seem to new attention from their unique family relations, they will certainly kill their own, around are no alternative way to wipe-off brand new dishonour she hath over your family however, by her very own blood.”
Kandyan legislation together with prohibited marriages ranging from romantic family members. So it incorporated a guy”s child (duva), sibling (sahodari; so it included the child of one”s father”s brother or you to”s mom”s sis) and you will nenda (paternal cousin), regardless of if he might ma, kudamma). To possess a wedding becoming legitimate, new activities as well as needed the reason for developing an excellent marital relationship. Furthermore, Buddhism watched to they you to definitely age a beneficial secular package and not a strict sacrament such as Hindu legislation, so that matrimony in itself had “nothing force or validity” as indexed by Knox.
Trial ong brand new Kandyans. Davy (Account of the interior of Ceylon 1821) states your basic a couple of weeks of your own fiance”s cohabitation together with her spouse was a time period of demo at the end of that your matrimony are sometimes annulled otherwise verified. For concubinage, although it is actually let, in later on moments, it appears to be for come frowned upon, especially involving the nobility. John D”oyly (Outline of the composition of one’s Kandyan Kingdom 1835) states that last Kandyan king reprimanded Migastenne Adigar to own staying an effective concubine of “Berava” (drummer) caste. Brand new woman is actually flogged and sent along the river, for example banished of Kandy.
Polyandry (Multiple Husbands) within the Sri Lanka
Polyandry (a woman with several husbands) is actually courtroom on Empire regarding Kandy, and therefore existed regarding fifteenth so you can 19th century. It actually was euphemistically titled “eka-ge-kema” (“eating in one single family”).Asiff Hussein authored: Claims Knox, “Inside nation, even the greatest hath but that spouse, but a woman have a tendency to has actually one or two husbands.” The brand new polyandry practiced in the Kandyan moments is usually of fraternal types of and is actually known because of the euphemism eka-ge-kama (illuminated. dining in one family). [Source: Extracted from Sinhalese, Kandyan and you can very early Uk day and age literary provide from the Asiff Hussein, Digital Library Sri Lanka lankalibrary ]
Joao Riberio (1685) says of the Sinhalese in the course of Portuguese rule (17th century): “A girl renders a binding agreement in order to wed a person out-of their very own status (to possess she dont marry outside they), of course, if this new household members is actually certified they give a feast and you may unify this new betrothed couples. The very next day a sis of husband requires his set, assuming discover seven brothers this woman is new spouse out of them, distributing brand new evening by transforms, without any husband having a heightened correct than nearly any of their brothers. When the most beautiful San pedro women during the day, any of them finds out the brand new chamber unoccupied, they can retire to the lady in the event the the guy believes match. she will refuse by herself to help you none of them; whichever cousin it can be you to definitely deals the wedding, she is the brand new spouse of the many.” He adds: “the fresh new lady who is hitched so you’re able to a husband with a huge quantity of brothers is really happy, for all toil and you will nurture having their particular and bring what they earn to the home, and you can she lifetime much honoured and you may well supported and for which reasoning the youngsters label all of the brothers the fathers.”